Poker mechanism for gas-producers.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

S. B. SHELDON.

POKER MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUGERSQY APPLIoATIoN FILED AUG.15, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J'cwzuelfi Jbeldorp PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

S. B. SHELDON. POKER MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.15, 1907.

4 snrm'rs snnnrg C Cg 5 3 0 5 I if 0 J! 0 O D O ifizeases: EUGZZQPPATBNTED MAY 5, 1908.

, s. B. SHELDON. POKER MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODU GERS.

APPLIOATION'IILED AUG. 15,1967.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

u 0 mi r1 PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. v s. B. SHELDON. I v POKER'MEGHANISM FORGAS PRODUGERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1907.

'4 SHEETS-SHEET v Illllllllllllllllflmllllllllllllllllllilliiil 1SAMUELTLBHELDON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

" roman- Manama FOR GAS-PRODUCERS.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908 Application filed August 15, 1907. Serial Ilo.388,574.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. SHELDON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York,have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Poker Mechanism forGas-Producers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to poker actuating mechanism for gas producers,or devices for agitating or stirring the fuel in the combustion chamberof such producers during'the process of combustion.

The poker actuating mechanism embody' ing my invention is of that classin which the combustion chamber of the gas producer is provided with arotative top, and with one or more pokers mounted on said top and whichare carried around with the said top in the turning movement of thesame.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accom anying drawings, illustrating one practica embodiment ofmyinvention: Figure 1 is a lan view of the top of a. gas producer provi(ed with a poker actuating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevationof the gas producer and poker actuating mechanism, a portion ofsaid-figure being in vertical section, taken on line 2-2 of .Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a detail plan section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is adetail view in verticalsection of one of the pokers and adjacent partstaken on line 44 of Fig. l and showing the poker shaft and its attachedactuating segment in elevation. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4showing a changed position of the parts. Fig. 6 is a detail plan sectiontaken upon line 66 of Fig. 4. .Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on line77 of Fig. 1, illustrating two of the shafts through which the poker isactuated. Fig. 8 is a detail section taken on line 88 of Fig. 1.' Fig. 9is a detail face view of a cam through which is actuated the guide.frame carrying the poker shaft. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view ofthe pawl carrying lever through which turning movement is given to therolalivc top of the producer. As shown in said drawings, A indicates thecombustion chamber of the gas producer, rpends into the which issurrounded a circular wall A and ing to deliver fuel through saidopening I) and the casing of which willhave closed or sealed connectionwith the said top plate, so as to prevent the escape of gas from theproducer. Said rotative top plate B is supported at its outer margin ina manner permitting the same to freely rotate. As illustrated, astationary annular metal bearing ring B is employed to support the saidto plate B. Said ring B is -located outside of and free from cont-actwith the wall A of the lire chamber. Said bearing ring is shown a:supported b means of an external, cylindric metal Wall B", whichsurrounds said wall A. The bearing ring B is provided with an upwardlyfacing annular bearing surface or ball-race I) and the margin of the topplate is provided with a corresponding downwardly facing ball-race 11between which and the ball-race I) are inserted a series of bearingballs I). Said bearing ring B is made. U-shaped in cross section,-giving the same the form of an annular trough, and the margin of the topplate Bis provided with a depending annular flange wlneh extendsdownwardly into said trough, which latter is, in the operation of theapparatus, tilled with water to constitute a water seal between therotating top plate and the said bearing ring B The annular hearings orball-races b and b are located within the trough formed by the U-sliapcdbearing ring, so that said ball-races and the bearing balls between-themare kept cool by the water in said trough. Said to plate B is shown asprovided with an upwari 1y extending, marginal flange b at its outermargin and with a like upwardl extending flange b surrounding thecentral opening I) therein; said top plate and its flangesformim a wideshallow trough in which water is aced to cool the entire top plate.

The part indicated b v B in Fig. 2 of the drawings, indicates the lowerend of the easing of a fuel feeding device which is located over thecentral opening I) in the top plate and terminates in a dependingannular flange which extends outside of the liange if and dewater whichcovers the top to a poker shaft C which extends from the combustionchamber upwardly through an opening in the top plate B and is supportedupon said top plate insuch manner that its lower end, carrying the pokerC, is adapted to swing or oscillate toward and from the center of thecombustion chamber and to also have endwise'or u and down movement,

while it is-held rigic ly in position relatively to said top plate insuch manner that the poker C in. all positions thereof will partake ofthe rotative movement of said top plate. The purpose of such laterallyswinging movement of the poker is to enable the latter to actsuccessively on parts of the surface of the fuel at difierent distancesfrom the center of rotation of the top plate, and the actuatingmechanism by which the poker'is given its swinging movement isconstructed to maintain the poker without lateral movement forconsiderable periods of time, during each of which the poker is thrustdownwardly into position to act on the fuel, as it turns with the topplate, and is thenlifted above the latter. The poker is not in actionduring itslateral swinging movement, which takes place during the timethat the samev is in its elevated position and free from contact-withthe fuel. Now referring to the means for supporting said poker shaft C Dindicates an oscillating or swinging guide frame in which said. pokershaft has endwise movement. Said guide frame is mounted to swing ion ahorizontal axis and in a vertical plane, and concentrically withahorizontal rock shaft E, through the medium of which endwise 0r risingand falling movement is given to the said poker shaft. Said guide frameis provided with guiding means for the poker shaft, which engage sai'dshaft in a manner to permit the same to slide up and down in said frame,while holding the said shaft from lateral movement in the frame, so thatthe shaft partakes of the oscillatory movement of said guide frame. Inthe particular construction shown, said. rock shaft E is mounted inbearings e 'e, which are supported on the top plate B considerably abovethe level of the same by frame standards E E and the oscillating frame Dis pivotally supported by said rockshaft. Said rock'shaft E is providedwith a gear'segment F which intcrrneshes with the teeth a of a rack barC on the poker shaft. The oscillating frame D, consists of two parassessallel side plates (1 d (Fig. 6), which are rigidly connected at theirouter margins remote from the shaft E by a connecting portion 65. Saidside plates at d are separated to form a space through which passes thepoker shaft and in which is located the gear segment F, and said plateshave direct bearing engagement with the rock shaft E, on opposite sidespf said gear segment. The rack bar C is shown as being of rectangularform and provided with a longitudinal cylindric passage or bore in whichis inserted and secured the poker shaft, which latter consists of ametal tube or pipe. The flat side faces of said rectangular rack theinner faces of the plates d d (as seen in Fig 6) and the poker shaft isguided by means bar C have bearing engagement with of bearing rollers dd (Z (Z extending trans verscly between the said plates (Z (Z at the topand bottom of the. oscillating frame and engaging the 0 posite flatfaces of the said rack bar said roll ers d (i being mounted on pivotpins which are inserted and secured at their ends in said plates (1 d. I

The rack teeth 0 are shown as having their outer faces flush with theinside flat face of the. rack bar C and as being made shorter than thewidth of the rack bar, as seen in Fig- 6, so as to afford longitudinalbearing surfaces on the rack bar, at both sides of said.

teeth, for contact with the bearing rollers d d.

' It will be manifest from the construction described that when theoscillating frame D is moved or oscillated the lower end, of the. pokershaft (1 with the poker C thereon will be swung or'moved toward and fromthe center of the combustion. chamber A and that when said poker shaftis given endwise movement in the oscillating frame by the actionof-the-rock shaft E and gear segment F, a

rising and falling movement will be given to said shaft.

As clearly seen in the plan view (Fig. 1), the rock shaft E is notarranged at right angles to a radial line of the circular combustionchamber, but at anangle to such. a

radial line so that the plane of oscillation of the guide frame D andthe poker shaft will not be radial but, if extended, will pass at somedistance at one side of the center of the top plate B. By thisconstruction the pokers C, which, as shown consist of flat plates ofshovel form, arranged parallel with the oscillating frame D, are made tooccupy an inclined or angular position with respect to the circular pathof movement in which the travel when the top plate is turned. Thisarrangement of the parts is employed in order to facilitate the stirringof the fuel, by throwing the same to one side of the path of the poker,as the latter moves through the fuel in its advance movement.

The particular arrangement of the parts described, by which the pokerswings laterally in a plane which is inclined to the radial ica providedthe general falling movement to the poker, devices are 886,656 8 line ofthe combustion chamber, is not essential, so far as the generaloperation of the app-J .atus is concerned, and the axis of oscillationof the guide frame D and";he poker may be arranged at any desired anglerelal tively to the path of movement of the poker, l direction oft-helaterally swinging movement of the poker besuch l as to carry it nearerto and farther away from the center of rotation of the top plate. l Nowreferring to the means for actuating l theframe D and rock shaft E, asrequired for giving lateral swinging and also rising and latory movementwill be imparted to the crank arm E and rock shaft E through the actionof the connecting rod E The said shafts G and H being given rotarymovement by suitable actuating means, both oscillatory and endwisemovement is imparted to the poker shaft through the medium of theoscililating guide frame I) and oscillating gear segment F. The rotativemovement of the said cam J is so arranged or adjusted with respect tothe rotation of the crank arm H on the shaft II that the lateral orswinging movement of the poker will occur when the providedas follows: Gindicates a horizoi-ltal, latter is in its elevated position and isabove rotative shaft arranged parallel with the rock I and out ofcontact with the fuel in the comshaft E and below the level of the sameand bustion chamberand the advance or down- H another llOIiZOIlLil wardand succeeding return or rising strokes vertically above and parallelwith the shaft of the poker will take place while the poker G andsomewhat above the-level of the said 's maintained laterally immovableat both rock shaft E. B'urings g g for the shaft G the inward andoutward limits of its swingand bearings It 71 for the shaft II are sup-J ing movement.

ported on frame standards I I which are at- It being understood that theshafts Gand tached to and rise from the top plate B and H turn in thedirection indicated by the ar- :1 third bearing g for said shaft Gisattached rows in Figs. .4 and 5, it will be seen that to the upper endof a frame standard I also when the parts are in the position shown inattached to said top plate, as clearly seen in Fig. 4 (the poker shaftthen being vertical Fig. 7. Attached to one end of the shaft G and in anelevated position) is a circular rotative cam J, located adjacentoscillating arm D will occupy the concentric to the oscillating guideframe D and through part of the cam groove 7' nearest the center of themedium of which oscillatory movement the cam and will have just enteredsaid conis given to said frame. As illustrated the centric part of saidcam groove, while the said cam J is provided with a cam groove crank armH is about to swing upwardly into which extends a stud d which is atoverthe shaft H so as'to carry the crank arm tached to and projects from theadjacent E toward the right in Fig-'4 and thereby side face of the saidframe D. Said cam move the gear segment F in a direction to groove y' isprovided with concentric inner and outer parts, joined by connectingportions which are inclined somewhat to radial lines of the cam. Thesaid concentric portions of the cam groove operate to hold theoscillating frame at the outward and inward limits of its movement forconsiderable periods of time during each rotation of the cam, or inother words, give to the guide frame and poker two periods of restduring each complete rotation of the cam. The inclined connectingportions of the cam groove act to rotativc shaft arranged ing risinmovement will be effected while the stud 4 is engaged with the saidinner concentric part of the cam groove, so that no swinging movement ofthe poker will take place during its advance and return strokes.Byreason of the fact that the shaft H is arranged to make two rotationsto each rotation of the shaft G and the inner concentric ,portion of thecam groove 7' extend aconsiderable distance circumferentially of thecam, the

. give quick or rapidswinging movement to poker will complete itsdownward movement the said guide frame between such periods and Wlll beagain elevated to its starting of rest. The shaft H has gearedconnection point, or to the position shown in Fig. 4,

' swinging end while the said stud (Z is still engaged with the saidinner concentric part of the cam groove. The poker will be retainedpractically without movement at the lower limit of the stroke while thecrank arm H is passing through the part of its are at theleft of theshaft H in Fig. 4 and during this period the poker with the shaft Gthrough the medium of a large gear wheel G on said shaft G and a smallergear wheel or pinion H on said shaft H, the gear-wheels being soproportioned that the shaft H turns twice to each rotation of said shaftG. On one end of said shaft II is secured a crank arm H the crank pin ofwhich is connected by a connecting rod E with a crank arm E on the saidshaft E. The end of said crank arm E has oscillatory movement in an areabove the shaft E, and the shaft l lis arranged horizontally oppositi-athe are or path of movement of the said of the crank arm E so that inthe top plate from the time it penetrates the surface of the fuel in itsdescent until it leaves the same in its back stroke. After the crank armH has made a complete rotation from therotative movement of the shaft H,oscil-,

the stud (Z of the.

carry the poker downwardly. Such downward movement of the poker and itssucceedacts upon the fuel, being carried or moved through the same bythe forward movement imparted to it by the turning of fshownin Fig. 5.-

the position shown in Fig. 4, with the effect of lowering and againraising the vpoker the inward swinging movement of the poker (to theright in Figs. 4 and 5) is effected by the movement of the stud doutwardly in'the cam groove 9' to the outer concentric portion ofsaidcam groove; such swinging movement taking place during the timethepoker is held at or near the upward limit of its movement, by thepassing of the crank arm. H through the part of its arc to the left ofthe shaft H, as shown in Fig. 4. Theinward swinging movement of thepoker will thus take place before the poker has been moved toanyconsi'der'able. extent downward (at the beginning of the secondrotation of the shaft H from the position shown in Fig. 4) so that saidpoker will not enter the fuel until it has reached the inward limit ofits swinging movement, as In saidFig. 5 the crank arm H has justcompleted its movement over groove j and the poker shaft again swung'in] 'wardly to its vertical position, as shown in the shaft Htoward theright, andthe gear.

segment F has been thrown to the limitof its downward movement and thepoker thereby depressed to the full. extent of its downward stroke: Thestud b is at this'time engaged. with the outer concentric part of thecam groove j, and it remains in said outer concentric part during thecompletion of the rotation of the crank arm H or until said crank armreaches the position at the. left of the crank shaft H, Fig. 5, andthereby effectsthe lifting of thepoker out of the fuel. -When the pokerhas been lifted from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the upper limit ofits lifting movement, the stud d is again carried from the outer to theinner part of the concentric Fig. 4'.

For giving rotative movement to the top plate B of the combustionchamber, together with'the several operative arts carried by saidplateashereinbefore escribed, a construction is shown in the drawing, asfollows: On the end of one of the shafts G opposite to the endwhichcarries the cam J, is a cam disk K provided on its outer side facewith a cam projection k. L (Figs. 1, 7 and 10) indicates a lever whichis pivoted by an upright pivot stud Z'to a standard L which rises fromthe top plate B. One end of said lever L has an n wardly extending arm Zwhich rises to the evel of the shaft G and is provided with a'roller Zwhich bears upon the face of the cam disk K and is in o sition to beengaged by thecam projection The opposite end of the lever L extendsdownwardly, and outwardly beyond the margin of the top plate B, and isprovided with a vertically swinging, pivotedpawl M adapted to act upon aseries of upwardly facing ratchet teeth B (Figs. 1 and 2) formed on theouter margin of the sup orting ring B. A contractile, coiled spring 1' lis connected with the topplate and the lever L, and acts on said leverin a direction to hold said roller Z yieldingly pressed against the faceof the cam disk K. By the operation of said cam disk K, lever L and pawlM the topplate will be given a ste by step turning movement, by which, wen the poker C is in its depressed position, and engaged with thefuel'in the combustion chamber, said-poker will be advanced or movedalong or through said fuel, with the effect of stirring or agitating thesame.

The said shafts G and 11' may be given rotary movement by any suitablyarranged motor.- As illustrated in the drawings. an

electric motor N is mounted on the top late B, witlrits 'armature'shaftn horizonta and gear whee O O! mounted on. counter-shafts O O which aremounted in bearings 0 0, and are arranged parallel with and between theparallel with the said shafts s and H. Said motor shaft 11, is providedat its opposite ends with gear 1pinions n n which interinesh withmotorshaft and the shafts H, v Gear pinions 0 on the said counter-shafts Ointermesh with gear-wheels thereby transmit motion; to said shaft H; Theshafts G are driven from the shaft H through the medium of the gearwheels G and H a To provide a water seal between the vertically movableand swinging poker shafts and the=top plate B a construction is pro-'vided as follows: Surrounding the opening through which extends the okershaft C, said top plate B is provide with a'water trough or receptacleP, inv depth. substan-' tially equal to the endwise movement of thepoker shaft, and the'v oker shaft has attached to it a bell Q a apted toenter said trough and the heightof which is substantially equal to thestroke of the said poker shaft. The .outer wall B of said trough isformed b a vertical, flattened tube which depends rom the top late B andis elon gated in the direction of the swinging or OS.-

H H on the shafts H, and

cillatory movement of the poker shaft. The

said outer wall B has connected with its lower margin a flat bottom wall13", having an elongated opening through which the poker shaft passes,and'which is surrounded by an upwardly extending tubular part B whichforms the inner wall of the trough and rises to a point above or nearthe level of the top of'the flange b of the top late B. .The outer andinner wallsB and l3 form, with the bottom-wall B, a Well or depression.in the top plate, which communicates with the trough formed b the mar band which is led with t e waterb which said to plate is cooled. The bellQ ias parallel sides located in vertical planes between the inner and.outer walls B and B of the trough I, the lower margin of said bell beinginal flanges b and water which covers the top plate B when the pokershaft is in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 2. Said bell Q bydipping at its lower margin into the water, prevents the escape of gasthrough the opening in the top plate formed by the tubular wall B, sothat the water in the trough constitutes a water seal between the topplate and the poker shaft.

The trough formed by the walls B B and B is deep enough to ermit thedownward movement of the. bell into the samewhen the poker shaft isfully depressed, and said bell is made of downwardly flaring shape so asto permit the swinging of the same with the poker shaft to the extremelimit of the movement of the shaft in both directions, as clearly shownin Figs. 4 and 5.

To provide for water cooling the poker and oker shaft, the said pok'erconsists of a holow casting, the interior of which is in communicationwith the interior of the poker shaft which, as hereinbefore stated,consists of a pi e or tube. The upper end of said po'ker s aft is closedby means of a cap 0 and a water supply ipe 0 extends through said capdownward t irough the hollow poker shaft to the bottom of the hollowinterior of the poker, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Anoverflow or return pipe 0 is connected with the cap 0. ater suppliedunder pressure by the sup ly pi e c is delivered to the lower end of t ehol ow poker and circulates upwardly through the poker and poker shaftand is delivered through the overflow pipe 0 The devices by which thepoker is actuated and the to plate rotated may be so timed or adjusterwith respect to each-other that the poker will not enter the fire at thesame place in successive rotations of the top plate. n other words, ifthe rotation of the cam J with respect to the speed of rotation of thetop late be so adjusted as to give a specific num er of rotations tosaid cam during each rotation of the top plate, then the poker will acton the same part of the fire bed .at each succeeding rotation of the topplate, but by obvious arrangement or adjustment of the drivingmechanisms for the poker and top plate the poker may be adapted to actat constantly changing points in the rotative movement of the top late.

-VVl1ile I have illustrated mechanism for giving rotative movement tothe top plate, actuated from a motor that is carried by said top plateand by which motion is given to the pokers, yet this particularconstruc-.

tion is not essential am may be turned or rotated from a motor otherwiselocated or by any other suitable means. Said top plate, moreover, neednot necessarily be turned continuously in one direction but it may havero- 2 tative movement alternately in opposite the said top plate bypower supplied directions. As for instance, if said top plate be turned180 in one direction and an equal distance in the other direction theentire circumference of the fuel will be acted on, provided the topplate be equipped with two pokei's arranged at 180 apart thereon, asshown in the drawings; moreover, if the top plate be provided with onlyone poker it may e rotated one complete turn and then re-,

versely rotated for a complete turn in order that the poker may operatethrough the entire circumference of the combustion chamher.

It will, 0f course, be understood that the turning movement of the topplate and thepoker may be either substantial y contlnuousorintermittent.

ered by such swinging poker.

While the poker actuating mechanism described gives movement to thepoker to two positions yet it will be understood that by entirelyobvious modifications *of the mechanism the poker may be swung to threeor more positions and may thereby be adapted to act at three or moreinstead of at two different distances radially from the center of thecombustion chamber. As for instance, the cam J may be arranged to shiftthe oscillating guide frame D to three different points in its swing, soas to carry the poker to and hold it in three different positions, ineach of which the poker is depressed and raised, the geared connectionbetween the. shaft G and H, in that case being arranged to give threerotations of the shaft II. to one of the shaft 'G a I claim as myinvention:

1. A poker actuating mechanism for gas producers com rising a rotativetop plate, a poker carried y said top plate, and oker actuatingmechanism mounted on anc turning with said top plate, acting to giverising and falling movement to said poker, to give swinging movement tothe poker when the same is in its elevated position only and to ortantadvantage gained by giv-' maintain said poker substantially withoutswinging movement during its advance or downward movement, when mostposition and during its turn or upward movement.

2. In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combination ofa rotative to plate, a poker rovided with a shaft whicfi extends throngi the said top plate, an oscillating guide frame mounted on the topplate subsequent rein its lower- 1 movement to and. in which said pokershaft has endwise movement, and oker. actuating means mounted upon antturning with said top plate for giving oscillatory movement to saidguide frame and endwise movement to the poker shaft, acting to giveswinging the guide frame when the poker is in its elevated osition onlyand to maintain said guide rame substantially without movement duringthe advance or downward movement, during the time the poker is in itslowermost position, and durmg the subsequent return or upward movementof said poker.

3; In a poker actuating mechanism for'gas producers. the combination ofa rotative to plate, a poker provided with a shaft, an oscif latingguide frame mounted on the top late and with which the poker shaft hason wise sliding connection, and means for giving endwise movement to thepoker shaft, embrac ing a rack bar on the poker shaft and an oscillatinggear segment mounted concentrically with the said oscillating guideframe.

4. in a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combination ofa rotative top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame mountedon the top plate and with. which said poker shaft has emlwise slidingengagement, a rock shaft mounted concentrically with the saidoscillating guide frame, 0 erative connections between said rock sfiaftand the poker shaft, adapted for giving endwise'movement to the pokershaft and mechanism giving oscillatory movement to the guide frame androcking movement to the said rock shaft.

5. In a poker actuating mechanism for producers, the combination of arotative top plate, a poker shaft, an oscilhiting guide frame in whichthe poker shaft has endwise movement, a rock shaft mountedconcentrically with the oscillating guide frame, a rack bar on the pokershaft, a gear segment affixed to the rock shaft and imaermcshing withsaid rack bar, and actuating mechanism giving oscillatory movement tothe guide frame and rocking movement to the rock shaft.

6. in a poker actuating-mechanism for gas producers, the combination ofa rotative top late, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame mountedon the top plate and in which said poker shaft has endwise movement, arock shaft mounted concentrically with the oscillating frame, a rack baron the poker Y shaft, a gear segment affixed to the rock shaft andintermeshing with said rack bar, and means for giving oscillatorymovement to the guide frame and rocking movement to the rock shaftadapted to give movement to the guide frame when the poker shaft iselevated and to maintain the guide frame substantially without movementduring the endwise movement of the poker shaft.

1 '7 In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers the combination ofa rotative top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame mountedon the top plate and in which the poker shaft has endwise movement, arotative cam acting on the guide frame to give oscillatory movementthereto and means for giving endwise movement to the poker shaft. 8. Ina poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the, combination of arotative top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame mounted onthe top plate and in which the poker shaft has endwise movement, ardtative cam acting on the guide frame, to give oscillatory movementthereto and means for giving endwise reciprocatory movement to the pokershaft, said cam acting to maintain theipoker shaft laterally immovablefor periods of time during each of which the poker shaft is advanced andretracted. v

' 9. In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combinationof a rotative top plate, a pokershaft, an oscillating guide framemounted on the top plate and in which the poker shaft has endwisemovement, a rock shaft mounted on the top plate concentrio with theoscillating guide frame, operative connections between the said rockshaft and the poker shaft for giving endwise reciprocatory movement tothe latter and a rotative cam acting on the guide frame for givingoscillatory movement thereto.

10. in a poker actuating mechanism. for gas producers, the combinationof a rotative top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame inwhich said poker shaft has endwise movement, a rock shaft mountedconcentrically with the guide frame, a rack on the poker shaft, a gearsegment attached to the rock shaft and a rotative cam acting on theguide frame to give oscillatory movement thereto.

11. in a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combination ofa rotativc top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame mountedon the top plate and in which the poker shaft has endwisc movement, arock shaft mounted on the top plate concentrically with the oscillatingguide frame, operative connections between said rock shaft and the pokershaft for giving endwise mbvement to the latter, a crank arm on the rockarm, a connecting rod extending between the crank arm on crank arm onthe rock shaft and means, embracing a positive gear connection with saidrotative shaft, for giving oscillatory movement to the guide frame.

12. In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combination ofa rotative top'fplate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame mountedon the top plate and in which the poker shaft has endwise movement, arock shaft mounted concentrically with the the said rotati've shaftandshaft, a rotative shaft provided with a crank said guide frame, arack bar on the poker shaft, a gear segment affixed to the rock shaftand intermeshing with said rack bar, a crank arm on the rock shaft, arotative shaft provided with a crank arm, a connecting rod extendingbetween the rotative shaft and the crank arm on the rock shaft and'meansacting on the guide frame to give oscillatory movement thereto. I

'13. In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combinationof,a rotative top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guideframe'mounted onv the top plate and with which the poker shaft hasendwise movement, a rock shaft mounted on the top plate concentricallywith the saidguide frame, operative connections between said rock shaftand the poker shaft, acting to give endwise movement to said pokershaft, a rotative cam acting on the guide frame to give oscillatorymovement to the same, a crank arm on the rock shaft, arotative shaftprovided with a crank arm, a connecting rod extendmg between said crankarm on the rotative shaft and the crank arm on the rock shaft andgearing connecting said rotative shaft with said cam.

14. In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producer's, the combinationof a rotative top plate, apoker shaft, an oscillating guide framemounted on the to plate and in which the poker shafthas en wisemovement, a rock shaft mounted on the top plate concentrically with saidguide frame, connections between the said rock shaft 'andt-he pokershaft, for giving endwise reciprocatory motion to the said poker shaft,a rotative shaft, connecting means between said rotative shaft and therock shaft for giving rocking movement to the latter, a rotative camacting on'the uide frame togive oscillatory movement thereto; said camacting to give swinging movement to the guide frame in both directions,during each rotation of the cam and to poker shaft is advanced andretracted, and gearing connectingsaid rotative shaft with the said camaffording aplurality'of rotations of the said shaft to each rotation ofsaid cam.

15. In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combination ofa rotative said rock shaft, a rotative shaft provided with a crank arm,a connecting rod extended between the crankarm o'nthe rotative shaft andthe crank arm on the rock shaft, a rotacrank arm on the said hold thesaid frame immovablefor periods of time during each of Which the tivecam acting on the guide frame to give oscillatory movement thereto, acam shaft arranged parallel with the said rotative shaft andintermeshing gear wheels on the said rotative shaft and cam shaft.

16. In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combination ofa rotative top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame in whichsaid oker shaft has endwise movementg guide ro lers on the said guideframe enga ing the poker shaft, means for giving oscillatory movementtosaid guide ame and means for giving endwise movement to the pokershaft in the guide frame.

17. In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combinationofa rotative top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating gulde frame in whichthe poker shaft has endwise movement, a rack bar on the poker shaft, andan oscillating gear segment mounted concentrically with the guide frame,said rack bar having flat side faces for engagement with the guide frameand rack teeth formed in one of saidflat faces.

18, 'In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers the combination ofa rotative top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame, a rackbar on the poker shaft, and an oscillating gear segment mountedconcentrically with the uide frame, said rack bar bein of rectanguf gituinal bore through which the poker shaft extends and in which it issecured.

19. Ina poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combination ofa-rotativc top plate, a poker shaft, an oscillating guide frame mountedon the top plate and in which the poker shaft has endwise movement, arock shaft mounted on the top plate concentrically with the said guideframe, a rack bar on the poker shaft, and a gear segmentattached to therock shaft, said oscillating frame embracing two parallel side plateswhich engage the said rock shaft at opposite sides of the gear segmentand between which the poker shaft extends.

20. In a pokeractuating machanism for gas producers, the combination ofa rotative top plate, a poker having a shaft which passes through thetop plate, actuating devices mounted on the top plate for giving endwiseand laterally swinging movement to said poker shaft, a motor mounted onthe top plate for driving said actuating mechanism, and actuating meansfor plate, embracing an oscillating lever mounted on the to late, astationary ring provided with ra e et teeth, a pawl on the leverengaging said ratchet teeth and a cam driven by said motor and acting onsaid lever.

21. In a poker actuating mechanism for gas producers, the combination ofa rotative top plate, a okerhaving ashaft which passes ough sai topplate, mechanism mounted ar' form and having a lonturning the top v onthe top plate and giving lateral swinging and endwise reciprocatingmovement to said 1 poker shaft, and means for Water sealing the openingin the top plate, through which said poker shaft passes comprising atrough in the top plate surrounding the said opening and a bell attachedto the poker shaft and adapted toenter said trough, the said trou h andbell having arallel, vertical side Walls which are lateraily elongatedin the direct-ion of the swinging movement of the poker l shaft, and thebell having downwardly and I outwardly divergent end walls.

\ In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I efiix mysignature in the 15 presence of two Witnesses, this 12 day of August A.1907.

SAMUEL B. SHELDON.

I Witnesses:

MARY E. CARR, A; H. VoGEL.

